"WHEN FORTUNE CHOOSES TO AFFLICT A GOOD MAN AND ROB HIM OF HIS PEACE, SHE OFTEN CHOOSES A FINE DAY TO BEGIN": FIRST EDITION OF DAVIES' LEAVEN OF MALICE

DAVIES, Robertson. Leaven of Malice. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, (1954). Octavo, original gilt-stamped red cloth, original dust jacket. $700.

First edition of Davies' second novel, an affectionate satire of mid-20th century Canadian society.

"Davies has introduced his readers to as choice a dossier of cranks as ever harassed a small-town editor… Davies looks upon most of these people with amusement and even affection. His sharpest bite is saved for the foibles of current Canadian society: its forbidding architecture, its church organists, its parishioners, its service clubs and its social climbers… His writing is full of zest, wit and urbanity. The soundness of his moral is apparent. The leaven of malice grows, and swells, and sooner or later touches all of us" (New York Times).

Book fine, dust jacket near-fine with mild rubbing and toning to extremities. A lovely copy.